2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

I RECEIVED A COUPON IN THE MAIL FROM MIDAS FOR $19.95 OIL CHANGE WITH COUPON.THE COUPON SPECIFIED TO BRING COUPON WITH ME TO A MIDAS MECHANIC SHOP TO GET THE $19.95 OIL CHANGE.I WENT TO MIDAS AT 4480 S BABCOCK STREET, MELBOURNE FLORIDA AND I PRESENTED THE COUPON. THE MANAGER ASKED ME DID YOU BRING YOUR OWN SYNTHETIC OIL LIKE YOU USE TO, I RESPONDED NO I HAVE A COUPON.HE PRINTED THE RECEIPT FOR $19.95, AND I SIGNED. I USE TO BUY MY OWN SYNTHETIC OIL AND MIDAS CHARGED ME $19.95 FOR OIL CHANGE AT SAME RATE THEY CHARGE FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE.MIDAS ALWAYS ADVERTISED OUTSIDE THEIR SHOP AN OIL CHANGE FOR $19.95. THIS PRICE IS WITHOUT A COUPON. AS THE MECHANIC DROVE MY CAR INTO THE SHOP FOR OIL CHANGE, I REMINDED THE MECHANIC MY CAR TAKES ONLY SYNTHETIC OIL. HE TOLD THE MANAGER/OWNER AND CAME BACK TO TELL ME THEY ARE GOING TO PUT SYNTACTIC OIL. SO HE STARTED CHANGING THE OIL. AFTER HE WAS DONE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO GO AND PAY FOR THE OIL CHANGE. THE MANGER/OWNER ASKED FOR MY CREDIT CARD AND HE DID ALL THE TRANSACTIONS AND HAND ME THE RECEIPT IN A ENVELOP. AS I AM LEAVING THE SHOP I TOOK THE RECEIPT OUT OF THE ENVELOP AND FOUND OUT THE MANAGER/OWNER CHARGED ME $62.66 FOR OIL CHANGE WITHOUT SAYING A WARD TO ME.HE SHOULD OF TOLD ME TO COME BACK AND SIGN ANTHER AGREEMENT FOR THE $62.66 BUT HE CHOOSE NOT TO BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND IF HE TOLD ME I WOULD OF SAID NO, AND I WOULD OF TOLD HIM I WANT TO COMEBACK WITH MY OWN SYNTHETIC OIL. THE OWNER WANTED ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK SO HE COULD TAKE HIS SYNTACTIC OIL OUT AND PUT REGULAR OIL INSTEAD IN MY CAR EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS MY CAR DOES NOT USE REGULAR OIL. I REPLIED YOU WOULD BREAK MY CAR AND MIGHT DO SOMETHING TO THE ENGINE THAT COULD CAUSE DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS IF BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I REFUSED TO LET HIM PUT REGULAR OIL IN MY CAR FOR FEAR OF MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 115,045

I JUST BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE, 03. THE SMELL MAKES ME PHYSICALLY ILL TO BE IN IT. THE DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I HAD THE CABIN FILTER CHANGED AND IT STILL SMELLS. THIS SMELL IS A CHEMICAL SMELL AND MY THROAT STARTED HURTING AND SWELLED UP. I SAW A DOCTOR AND SHE COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT ADDED THAT MY THROAT WAS FILLED WITH PUSS. I STOPPED DRIVING IT AND ASKED MY HUSBAND TO DRIVE IT. HE IS NOW COMPLAINING THAT HE IS HAVING HEADACHES AND HAVING NEW ALLERGIES AFTER JUST ONE WEEK. WE CALLED VW WHO SAID IT WAS A RUST PROOFING MATERIAL THAT THEY USED TO PUT ON THE CAR AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. BUT I HAVE BEEN READING MANY WEBSITES THAT SAY IT IS A PARAFIN SOUND PROOFING MAT UNDER THE CARPET. THIS MATERIAL IS BEING REMOVED BY VW FOR SOME PEOPLE AFTER CONTACTING NHTSA. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS CHEMICAL SMELL (LIKE BURNED CRAYONS). I AM CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S HEALTH. I HAVE 3 KIDS WHO HAVE TO RIDE IN THE CAR AS WELL. I WANT VW TO REMOVE THE PARAFIN SOUND PROOFING MAT AT VW COST. *TR

AS I TURNED OFF THE 4 LANE HIGHWAY ONTO OUR LOCAL STREET I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I THOUGHT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE. I PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 30 YARDS FURTHER, AND SAW NOTHING. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHOSE PARKING LOT HAS AN ENTRY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR DRIVEWAY. I DROVE TO THEM VERY SLOWLY AS CAR WAS MAKING TERRIBLY NOISES. I ALSO FOUND A BROKEN OFF BOLT ABOUT 1/2 INCH DIAMETER IN THE ROAD JUST BEFORE OUR DRIVEWAY AND TOOK IT TO NISSAN. NISSAN FOUND THAT BOTH ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THEY FELT ONE HAD BROKEN AND THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE FALLING HAD BROKEN THE SECOND. MY ENGINE WAS "SITTING ON TOP ON MY EXHAUST" IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD -- THE HIGHWAY I HAD JUST TURNED OFF OF --- I MAY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH FATALITIES. I HAVE REPORTED TO BOTH MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS WELL AS THE VW NATIONAL OFFICE. NEITHER WOULD PAY FOR MY $800 REPAIR, BOTH SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY MODEL. I MAINTAIN MY CAR AND FEEL THIS IS TERRIBLE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN. IF THE BOLTS ARE BROKEN --WHICH IS WHAT NISSAN SAYS/ NOT RUSTED --- THEN THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE!!!! IT WAS SO FORTUNATE THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED WHEN IT DID AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY!!! *TR

Mileage: 82,345

FROM DAY ONE THIS CAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE DENIED BY THE DEALER ON 5 VISITS, AFTER I SOLD THE CAR I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM VW, NOW THAT I AM LOOKING AT BLOGS THEY HAVE APPARENTLY RECALLED THIS RECALL TO SUIT THEM. OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE WINDOW TROUBLES, CONVERTIBLE ROOF TROUBLES, ELECTRONIC TROUBLES, SEATBELT TROUBLES, AIRBAG TROUBLES. I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WILL ALLOW THIS CAR TO STILL BE SOLD OR ON THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON WHEELS. *TR

Mileage: 1

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY IT STARTED TO LURCH AT STOPS AND STARTS, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSITION COMPANY REFERRED ME TO WEBSITES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN IN MI AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION, OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED, BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO ME NOW. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A LOOK AT THIS MODEL AND ITS TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WARNED MY TRANSITION SPECIALIST THAT THE REPAIR WHICH HAS BEEN FREQUENT ONLY WORKS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. I ASKED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AS IS AND WAS WARNED ONLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES. IT APPEARS TO E THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 11/14/11

Mileage: 92,000

RECALL ON AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR BACK IN 2008, WHICH WE HAD REPLACE . HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY HAPPEN WERE THE AIR BAG CREASE SENSOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND STAYS ON. WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANTS TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER. THERE IS ALWAYS A JERKING IN THE POWER TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING . THIS IS DANGEROUS YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP GOING UP HILL. I MADE A COMPLAINT BACK IN 2009 COMPLAINT #102868 NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

Mileage: 60

MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH A 2.0 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CODE: GGZ) HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I SEE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD $6,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND $3,500 FOR USED. THE USED TRANSMISSIONS HAVE MORE MILES THAN MY POOR CAR. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VW. *TR

Mileage: 77,500

BEGINNING AROUND SEPTEMBER 2010, MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING AND ENGINE REVVING DURING NORMAL DRIVING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE CAR IDLES AT VERY HIGH RPMS WHILE FAILING TO ACTUALLY SHIFT FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN SHIFTS VERY HARD INTO GEAR FORCING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN, JERK AND BUCK. VW DID ISSUE A WARRANTY EXTENSION SOME TIME AGO BUT THE EXTENSION WAS ONLY TO 100,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME, MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 104,000 MILES ON IT AND VW WOULDN'T DO THE WORK - WHICH INVOLVES REPLACING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. SINCE THAT TIME, THE RPMS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IDLING ALMOST TO RED ZONE LEVELS WHILE I'M DRIVING, THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT ACTUALLY ACCELERATING. IT'S AS IF THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE FOOT ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES AND IS REMEDIED IF I PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN RESTART IT. IN ADDITION, WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY OR UPSHIFTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR SIMPLY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO SKIP A GEAR OR SHIFT SO HARD IT JERKS AND BUCKS AND REVS VERY HIGH UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGES (LIKE IT DOES WHEN A KID IS LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT, ONLY IT'S AN AUTOMATIC). THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND HAS CONTINUALLY WORSENED. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT BUT BELIEVE IT IS IMMINENT IF THE CONDITION KEEPS GETTING WORSE. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

I HAVE A 2003 CONV/NEW BEETLE 1.8T ENGINE 69,200 MI. IT'S HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, GARAGED KEPT AND LOW MILEAGE LESS THAN 10,000 MIL PER YR. PER THE VW SERVICE DEPT IT HAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. TO MY UNDERSTANDING OTHER 2003 NEW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY COSTLY TO FIX. PER VW IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR

TRANSMISSION ON THE VW NEW BEETLES ARE FAULTY. CARS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 45,000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION GOES. THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON WEBSITE FORUMS LIKE NEWBETTLE.ORG AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

CAR BOUGH USED FROM VS DEALERSHIP ON 7/31/2006. BEEN IN FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 4TIMES, AIRBAG LIGHT 3 TIMES, A/C BROKE ONCE, WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP ONCE, NEEDED NEW ROTORS ONCE, RATTLING UNDER HOOD ONCE, BATTERY DIED TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I HAD TO TOW IT BACK TO VW. CAR JERKS WHEN GOING OUT OF FIRST GEAR-I TOLD VW THIS REPEATEDLY AND THEY ONLY TRIED TO FIX IT AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $700 TO FIX. ON 12/9/2008 MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. I CAN NOT PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO IT. WHEN THE WARRANTY WENT UP, ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING STARTED GOING WRONG. I REQUESTED PRIOR INFORMATION FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE OTHER OWNER BEFORE ME. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR WAS DOCTORED SO THAT I WOULD BUY IT AND THEN IT STARTED FALLING APART. *TR

Mileage: 86,273

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE OIL PRESSURE AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO OIL SLUDGE AND THE SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. 4/01/09 *NJ THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE OIL PAN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB

Mileage: 99,600

SINCE SEPTEMBER 22, 2008, THE OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON, FIRST INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN CONSTANTLY, FOLLOWED BY BUZZING SOUND. THE VW SERVICE REPAIR REPLACED A CLOGGED OIL PUMP WHICH THEY STATED WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. OCTOBER 6, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON-REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND OIL FILTER.. ON OCTOBER 17, 2008 THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN - VW SERVICE KEPT THE CAR TO TEST DRIVE UNTIL OCTOBER 20 AT WHICH TIME THEY REPLACED THE OIL PUMP. OCTOBER 22, 2008 THE OIL LIGHT CAME BACK ON- VW SERVICE REQUESTED TO KEEP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO CALL VW HEADQUARTERS TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE OIL LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMING ON. ON NOVEMBER 3, VW SERVICE STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HOWEVER, SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENGINE, AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. IN REVIEWING INFORMATION ON VARIOUS DISCUSSION BOARDS, THE 1.8T ENGINE THAT IS IN THE VW NEW BEETLE IS THE SAME ENGINE THAT CAUSED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE OIL LIGHT IN THE PASSAT AND THE AUDI. IN CONVERSATION WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE (1-800-822-8987), THEY INDICATED THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS RE NEW BEETLE AND THE 1.8T ENGINE AND STATED THE OIL PAN SIZE IS DIFFERENT. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT AN ENGINE WITH 55,000 MILES AND 5 YEARS OLD , AND THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANUAL WOULD NEED REPLACING---AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE SCARY PART IS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE WOULD FIX THE OIL LIGHT ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 54,575

THIS THE SECOND WATER PUMP REPLACED DUE TO IMPELLER FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE BEGAN TO SPARK WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE PULLED OVER AND THEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. *KB THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-91-0903

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEWS BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE HOWEVER; THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

Mileage: 3,000

OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON FOR NO REASON. IT WAS FULL OF OIL THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR AND IN A MONTH IT WAS DOING IT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND STAYING TOO. *JB

Mileage: 38,547